Virginia Tech Football: 5 sad observations from Clemson loss

Things are close to hitting rock-bottom for the Hokies in 2024.
Nov 9, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA;  Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Stephen Gosnell (12) lets a pass slip through his fingers while being defended by Clemson Tigers cornerback Jeadyn Lukus (10) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2024; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Stephen Gosnell (12) lets a pass slip through his fingers while being defended by Clemson Tigers cornerback Jeadyn Lukus (10) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bishop-Imagn Images / Brian Bishop-Imagn Images
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2. Wide receivers had a rough day

It was a rough day for the wide receivers. Yes, there were some throws from both Drones and Schlee that were not on target, but when they were on target, there were too many drops. Some of the drops were receivers who were wide-open. That's not ideal.

Drones missed a wide-open Ayden Greene in the second quarter and he might have taken the ball to the house if it was completed, but he had a fourth-quarter drop when he was wide-open. Stephen Gosnell, the one receiver who has been money this season, suffered an injury in the first half and did not return for the second half. The injuries are piling up everywhere.

3. Hokies defense was not bad

Somehow, some way, the Virginia Tech defense didn't allow a point in the first half. It felt like they were on the field for most of the half, but kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in large part due to a red zone interception and a blocked field goal that led to a Quentin Reddish touchdown.

In the second half, Clemson started to make plays and quarterback Cade Klubnik made a tremendous play on their second touchdown in the third quarter when he picked up a bad snap, rolled out, avoided a sack, and found a wide-open receiver inside the 5-yard line and he did the rest. That's the type of stuff that only happens to Virginia Tech this season. Seriously, it is. It summed up the game and the second half. The defense was not the reason for this loss.